Tampa Film Fan

pinellas filmmakers society meeting/screening moved to fourth friday of each month

May 16, 2008 at 11:03 am | In Events, Film Series, For Filmmakers, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Here’s the latest email from the Pinellas Filmmakers Society:

Hi Everyone !

VERY IMPORTANT - Please make note that our regular monthly meetings have been changed to the FOURTH FRIDAY of each month, therefore the next meeting WILL NOT be held this Friday …….but the following; MAY 23RD. Same time - 6:00 PM for networking, 7:00 PM meeting starts. Same place - Indie Studios, 1776 11th Avenue North, St. Pete.

TELL A FRIEND ~ BRING A FRIEND ~ EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

ALSO - IF YOU HAVE ANY WORK YOU WOULD LIKE SHOWCASED - BRING THEM WITH YOU AND WE WILL GET YOUR SHOWING SCHEDULED. WE ARE INTERESTED IN EVERYONE’S WORK; SHORTS, COMMERCIALS, TRAILERS, DOCUMENTARIES, …WHATEVER YOU HAVE - LET’S GET YOUR NAME AND YOUR WORK OUT THERE !

We will continue showing parts of the SONY award winning shorts, as submitted by Joe Gaudet, which everyone enjoyed in months past. We also look forward to hearing about the progress of the short projects and hopefully new people will attend who may want to volunteer and be apart of the production process. We will also be treated to a camera demonstration by Curtis Graham. He will be showing the capabilities and advantages of the latest state-of-the-art RED Model, as well as answering whatever questions about professional camera’s you may have. Attend and learn.
So spread the word to anybody who might be interested and see you ON THE 23RD.

Pete B.

Visit the website for more info.

the movies at this year’s ybor festival of the moving image:the good, the bad and the incomprehensible

May 16, 2008 at 10:50 am | In Events, Filmmakers, Event Reviews, Reviews, Film Festivals, Movies, Tampa Bay Area, Short Films, *Taxi to the Dark Side, *Ghosts of Ybor:Charlie Wall, *El Inmigrante, *Killer of Sheep, *War Dance, *Love Lived on Death Row | No Comments

Ye gads! I forgot to post anything about the recent Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. To save time, I’ll post what I recently wrote for my CrazedFanBoy.com column:

If the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image were a character in Little Women, it would be Jo March. After writing that, it occurs to me that some people reading this might be unfamiliar with the characters of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. So here’s a translation: Jo March is strong-willed, independent, energetic, unusual and does things her own way no matter what others think.

Just like the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image.

The YFOMI isn’t about parties, movie stars or networking. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, as the Seinfeld adage goes.) The YFOMI is about film, pure and simple. Films that make you think. Films that make you not know what to think. Films that flood your senses, confound you, try your patience, overwhelm you, amuse you, entertain you, teach you, expand your mind, baffle you, startle you. Films that take you somewhere that you’ve never been before, to a place you can’t get to through the typical Hollywood blockbuster.

I love Hollywood blockbusters. I want my movies to be linear, to have a clear beginning, middle and end. To have a freakin’ plot and to not give me a headache. But each year I continue to seek out what the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image has to offer. Each year I continue to have my consciousness raised, my brain engaged and my mind challenged by the festival’s films. This year was no exception.

Festival director David Audet told me that he selected films with the upcoming presidential election in mind. Many of the selected films focus on important issues currently on the minds of voters and politicians alike: immigration, the Iraq War, capital punishment, the First Amendment, crime, religion, sexism and human rights. Several of the films I was able to watch – including Taxi to the Dark Side and El Inmigrante — make compelling arguments about one or more of these topics.

Of course, there were films at the festival that weren’t about Serious, Important Issues. I was fortunate enough to see some charming, whimsical, funny films (Gustav Braustauche and the Auto-Debilitator, for example). I also had a chance to see some films that I can’t categorize or even accurately describe because I have no idea what they were about, what I was supposed to get out of them, or if I even liked them or not. Audet is fearless in his determination to support original, personal, experimental cinema and to screen these types of films at each year’s festival. The way I figure it, if Audet has the courage to showcase these films each year (and let’s face it: experimental, unusual films don’t usually bring in lots of money or viewers), then I can have the courage to sit down, shut up (although my inner voice is usually whining But this doesn’t have a plot!) and watch some movies that I would probably never see otherwise.

Each film that I saw at the festival deserves much more attention than I’m able to devote here, but I want to share my festival experience with you. So without further ado, here is a list of films I saw at this year’s Ybor Festival of the Moving Image – the good, the bad and the incomprehensible:

Taxi To The Dark Side – This feature documentary deserved its recent Academy Award. It starts off exploring the mysterious and suspicious death of an Afghani taxi driver and ends up asking hard questions about the U.S. military, government leaders, the Iraq War, torture, imprisonment and human rights. The film focuses on Abu Ghraib and Bagram Air Base: who was being held there; how the detainees were treated; who worked/served there and how did they feel about how they treated the detainees; what happened to the detainees and the soldiers; and finally, who was ultimately responsible for what happened there. Taxi is searing; very powerful and well done. (NOTE: Contains graphic, un-censored photographs of imprisonment, torture and autopsies. Not for the faint of heart.)

El Inmigrante – A feature documentary about a young, Mexican migrant who was shot and killed by a resident of Brackettville, Texas while attempting to cross the border into the U.S. The film examines a range of issues: racism, immigration, border patrol, inequalities and inconsistencies in the justice system, poverty, multi-culturalism and vigilantism. To me, this movie was not as moving as I expected it to be, perhaps because of the sheer number of issues it covered and perhaps because the emotional impact of the shooting was blunted by the way it was presented (the more time it took for the facts to be revealed, the less time there was to become emotionally involved).

Ghosts of Ybor:Charlie Wall – This feature documentary – by Tampa’s own Paul and Pete Guzzo, a.k.a. Guzzo Brothers #1 and #2 – tells the story of Charlie Wall, the powerful crime lord who controlled Tampa – and most of Florida – for several decades in the early 1900s, only to fade into obscurity until his mysterious and still unsolved murder in the 1950s.

The Guzzos did extensive research, including interviews with Wall’s relatives, former police detectives and Mayor Pam Iorio. The original film score is incredible and the choice of Joe Lala as narrator is absolutely perfect. The Guzzos’ unique blend of the familiar documentary elements of interviews, photographs, newspaper articles and recreations with the not-so-familiar techniques of animation, black-and-white sketches and colorful artistic renditions, while creative, did not always work for me. I found the animation and the artwork – especially the brightly colorful pieces – to be jarring and interruptive to the flow of the film. This was another documentary that did not have the emotional impact on me that I had anticipated; I wasn’t wowed or swayed by the names of the possible murder suspects because the film didn’t delve into those characters much before giving their names at the film’s end.

Ultimately, though, Charlie Wall was worth seeing, because it introduced me to local history that I had previously not known about and it whetted my appetite to learn more on my own.

Killer of Sheep – Filmmaker Charles Burnett’s critically-acclaimed-but-rarely-seen film is a fictional narrative story that so correctly captures real life on film that it’s almost a documentary. It’s a look at a day in the life of a 1970s working-class black man who lives with his family in the L.A. ghetto of Watts and works in a slaughterhouse. The film picks up at a random point in the man’s life and leaves off just as randomly. It was interesting; it became riveting as we come to care about the lead character and his family; ultimately it was depressing.

War Dance – This Oscar-nominated documentary (it lost to Taxi to the Dark Side) is about cute children from the wrong side of town who want desperately to win a music competition. The twist is that these children live in overcrowded refugee camps in northern Uganda, have witnessed terrible atrocities (oftentimes the murder of their parents), and that the Patongo School has never made it to the state music championship before. I have never wanted someone in a film to win so badly in my life. I won’t tell you whether or not they won, but I will tell you that I cried my eyes out watching this movie and I’m not ashamed to admit it. War Dance is beautiful and moving and powerful.

Con El Toque De La Chaveta (With a Stroke of the Chaveta) – This short documentary about lectors (readers) in Cuban cigar factories is very educational. I had always assumed that the lectors sat down, read to the factory workers during their shift and then packed up and left for the day. Not so, according to this documentary. The factory workers vote on the lector’s reading selections, signal their interest – or lack thereof – in the readings by ritualized taps on their tables, and look to the lectors for assistance with issues ranging from an unknown word heard earlier that day to writing letters on their behalf. Well done and interesting.

Simulacra – This charming animated short film takes place on a mechanized planet devoid of natural life. A robot discovers a flower growing wild and goes to extreme lengths to capture it.

Love Lived on Death Row – An unusual feature documentary about the Syriani family of North Carolina. Fifteen years ago, Mr. Syriani killed his wife and was sent to prison, leaving their four children to be raised by family. As adults, the Syriani siblings decide to let their father back into their lives, visiting him on death row in prison for the first time since their mother’s death. They forgive him, get to know him and finally have a father again when he is scheduled to die by lethal injection. The Syrianis appeal for clemency and fight not to lose their father too.

Filmmaker Linda Booker was very careful not to quickly reveal Mr. Syriani’s fate (so I won’t either) and tried hard to let the family tell the story without interjecting her own personal opinion into the film. (She stated this at the documentary filmmakers panel.) She did a good job and created a powerful and moving film. I only wish that she had given some basic biographical facts up front and then let the story unfold naturally. The murder of Mrs. Syriani by her husband was mentioned too quickly and important details about the family were overlooked. I didn’t realize until a third of the way through the film that there were four Syriani siblings, because one sister doesn’t appear on camera very often and there was no “there were four children” fact presented in the beginning. This film left me with a lot of unanswered questions regarding the murder, how the children were able to forgive their father, the circumstances of the Syriani son witnessing the murder, and so on. I don’t know if Booker didn’t ask the questions or if the family didn’t answer them, but I would like to have had more answers.

Fracas – There’s no good way to describe this five-minute film without giving too much away. (Plus I’m not entirely sure I “got” it.) It consists of photographs of children set to a soundtrack of children participating in a spelling bee. The ending – which may or may not come as a surprise – makes you wonder what statement the filmmaker is making. Then you look up “fracas” in the dictionary, say “Ah ha!” and then wonder about it some more.

The Distance to the Sun - The festival program said it’s a “unique, deep experience that lies somewhere between imagery, memories and mysterious events.” To me, it was 28 minutes of a car driving down a road. In the beginning, there was a soundtrack of a radio show about UFOs, then for a long while there was silence. After that, I don’t know. I didn’t make it through the whole 28 minutes.

Untitled (2007) – Director – and recent UT graduate – Allison Koehler announced that this short film is now titled Loneliness Hotel and is part of a trilogy of films on loneliness she’s doing. Having her introduction helped, because otherwise I would have missed the theme. This 14-minute black-and-white film shows three different people by themselves in hotel rooms through lots of quick cuts and repetitious scenes (to mimic the repetitive motions of lonely people, I think). Very creative use of music and sound effects; ultimately too long (and a little boring).

Cartesian Cunning – I have no idea what this short black-and-white film was about, but it depressed the hell out of me.

Gustav Braustache and the Auto-Debilitator - A wonderfully wacky short black-and-white film that no description can do justice. Unsuccessful inventor/mad scientist Braustache hasn’t paid rent for 34 years, living quietly in his cramped apartment inventing things like the Wide-Coverage Beer and Beverage Dispenser and dealing with a salamander infestation. After discovering the rent mishap, Braustache’s apartment manager quickly searches for him, only to discover that his latest invention – the Position Despecifier – makes him difficult to find. Using silent-film-era organ music and title cards, this film is silent film slapstick meets Inspector Gadget spoof meets insanity. With salamanders.

Film historian Charles Lyman presented a two-part series of rare, 16mm films by American independent filmmakers. I caught some of the series:

*1970 – A filmmaker carries his camera around his daily life in the 60s and 70s, back when it was unusual to do so, when recording one’s every move was not part of everyday life like today. A fascinating stream-of-consciousness look at one man’s life, with a great soundtrack.

*Sucking Alabama Air – A psychedelic, odd, free-flowing film that was obviously made in the 60s. Nature, music, free love…those were the days. This film was made before the Charles Manson-ordered Tate-LaBianca murders, which made all the foreshadowing (a Manson look-alike, a Tate look-alike, a knife juxtaposed with a woman’s pregnant belly) all the creepier.

*Saint Flournoy Lobos-Logos and the Eastern European Fetus Taxing Japan Bride in West Coast Places – Um…I think the title speaks for itself.

*Window Water Baby Moving – I walked into this movie late. This is not a movie you want to be late for. For a while I thought I was watching surgery of some sort. Then I realized I was watching a woman give birth. Close up and very, very personal. No soundtrack at all; complete silence (I think the audience was stunned). I went to Lamaze class with a friend years ago and the film we watched that night was less…”up close and personal” than this film. Not for the faint of heart or for women who have never had children. Or for anyone on a date.

*An Acquired Taste – Too bad we only saw an excerpt of this film; I want to see the entire thing. Filmmaker Ralph Arlyck turns the camera – and his humor – on himself and his family. His movie is about how he wanted to be famous, rich and successful as a filmmaker, but isn’t. Based on this movie, he should be.

*Hold Me While I’m Naked – This was introduced as being a humorous take on a filmmaker making movies to get women. I didn’t get it, I don’t think the strategy worked for that filmmaker, and it wasn’t funny at all. Of course, I’m prejudiced because I had just seen An Acquired Taste, which would have been difficult to top.

Last, but not least, are some short films by Hillsborough Community College students:

*Morning Meditations - A simple story about a guy who gets dumped by his girlfriend, is depressed and spends some quiet time in the HCC Art Gallery contemplating his life. The filmmakers made a nice attempt to capture the bright colors of the gallery’s artwork on film. I came to appreciate this film more after reading about artist Tobey Archer’s light/art pieces on display in the HCC Art Gallery. (Her collection is titled Night Meditations and is meant to inspire reflection and quiet contemplation.)

*One Egg Makes A Difference - A guy goes on a date and makes the mistake of telling his story about being arrested. Very creative, low-budget use of props and costume to effectively portray a cop and his patrol car.

*Untitled - A highly stylized, mesmerizing series of shots of one guy running, set to music. I don’t know if the filmmakers started out just exploring the different effects available with their software, or if they were trying to see how many ways they could film the same sequence, or what. Incredibly inventive and entertaining.

*The Other Face of War - A music video/photo montage designed to show a different, more personal, side of the U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Filmmaker Lashara Sullivan has served in Iraq twice and is returning this summer. Very moving and powerful. Well done.

*Exactly - Another amazing music video. I haven’t heard of local musician Amy Steinberg before, but I’m definitely going to look her up. Her song Exactly is sort of an upbeat, folksy song that’s catchy enough to hum along to and memorable enough to stay with you afterwards. This short was comprised of photographs manipulated (Rotoscoped?) enough for the faces to blur without losing meaning. The song, its message, the photos and the effects blend perfectly in a motivational, inspirational and powerful way (that’s not lame at all, even though this description sorta is). I’m told that the video is up on Steinberg’s MySpace page, so you can check it out there.

*Crime Pays - HCC professor John Hardin introduced this film by stating that he screens it for all of his film students after one of his students, Chris Hastings, filmed it five years ago. Hastings made a couple of changes to it when Hardin asked to screen it at the YFOMI, so I guess technically I saw the director’s cut. Heavily inspired by Tarantino, Hastings has created a 20-minute black-and-white short that’s better than some of the full-length movies I’ve paid to see at the theater. It’s a story — told out of sequential time order, of course — of some guys, some drugs, some guns, a heist, a murder, a double-cross…and I’m not sure what else because a lot of the characters looked alike (all wearing dark suits, of course) and I had trouble keeping up with who’s who and what’s what. Exceptionally well-done with fantastic use of music throughout. (When I found myself confused and therefore a little bored, I concentrated on those things.) And you gotta love that the end of the story is in the middle of the movie trick, doncha?

While we’re talking about the end of the story…….ROLL CREDITS

(psst! This post’s over. Stop reading. Really. I mean it.)

news and notes:48 hour film project, beazel, sunset cinemas

May 14, 2008 at 5:39 pm | In Events, Film Series, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

The 48 Hour Film Project will return to the Tampa Bay area July 18–July 20. “Filmmakers from all over the Bay area will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world for the title Best 48 Hour Film of 2008. Registration opens Tuesday, May 27. Visit www.48hourfilm.com/tampa-stpetersburg/ for more info.
A few months ago local filmmaker Mike Beazel entered a television series proposal into a highly regarded television writing contest run by Larry Brody. Mike has made it to the semi-finals. Check out the list of semi-finalists here. (h/t Guzzo Brother #1)
Received via email:
BANK OF AMERICA PRESENTS SUNSET CINEMA, TAMPA THEATRE’S TRAVELING PICTURE SHOW

Free Family-Friendly Movies in the Park

May 17 – The Wizard of Oz at Cotanchobee Park on the river in Downtown Tampa

Bank of America presents Sunset Cinema, Tampa Theatre’s traveling outdoor picture show, a free family-friendly film series showing classics and current popular films. The films will be projected onto a giant inflatable screen in parks around Tampa Bay. The next event is The Wizard of Oz at 8:15 p.m. at Cotanchobee Park on the river in Downtown Tampa. Gates open at 6 p.m. Two more movies and locations for October and November will be announced.

Bring blankets, pillows, backrests, low-profile beach chairs and picnic baskets. Tampa Theatre will be selling Cinema Snacks (popcorn, soft drinks, bottled water, candy) and Tampa Theatre merchandise (frisbees and picnic blankets). Sales and concessions proceeds support Tampa Theatre’s artistic and educational programming. Alcoholic beverages, plastic tarps and tables will not be permitted.

Come early for pre-show entertainment featuring animated and live action short films from Tampa Theatre’s Let’s Make Movies Digital Filmmaking Summer Camp for young filmmakers and The Tampa Film Review, a monthly showcase for independent, locally-produced short films.

”Since 1926, people have been traveling downtown to watch movies under Tampa Theatre’s simulated stars,” said John Bell, Tampa Theatre President and C.E.O. “We’re grateful to Bank of America for helping us bring free movies to Tampa neighborhoods so people can gather to watch movies under the real stars.”

“Bank of America is pleased to partner with the Tampa Theatre to present the Sunset Cinema series. The Tampa Theatre is one of our community’s historical and artistic gems,” said Bill Goede, Hillsborough County Market President, Bank of America. “Both Bank of America and Tampa Theatre are thrilled to bring the resources of the organization into Tampa’s neighborhoods.”

Sunset Cinema is sponsored by Bank of America, The City of Tampa Parks and Recreation and The Tampa Tribune.

The Wizard of Oz — One of the most beloved films of all time, The Wizard of Oz is a fanciful tale of the true meaning of home. The Academy Award-winning classic stars Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton and Frank Morgan.

Tampa Theatre — Chosen by LIFE magazine as one of “America’s 21 Wonders,” Tampa Theatre is one of America’s best-preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture. A beloved community treasure since 1926, the Theatre hosts 650 events annually including films, concerts, corporate and community events, tours and educational programs. Tampa Theatre is maintained by the City of Tampa and managed by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, with additional funding and support provided by the Tampa Theatre Foundation, a non-profit organization. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a Tampa City Landmark. Tampa Theatre is located in downtown Tampa at 711 North Franklin Street. For directions and other Theatre info, call the 24-hour info line at 813-274-8981 or visit www.tampatheatre.org.

Visit www.tampatheatre.org for more info.

ladies of the night double feature june 7

May 13, 2008 at 7:15 am | In Events, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Received via email from local filmmaker Rick Danford:

Enigma Films and Hocus Focus Productions will be working together to bring you a night of indie filmmaking goodness. The Ladies of the Night Double Feature will be held on Saturday, June 7, at USF (4202 E. Fowler Ave., Hall BEH103) at 6 p.m. There you will get to be the first to get a sneak peek at Enigma Films’ newest short film Alarum and Hocus Focus Productions’ latest feature film Savaged. Special celebrity guests such as genre legend Debbie Rochon and local talent such as actress/model Krista Grotte and actor Joel Wynkoop will be in attendance. Many other surprises will be in store and the event is FREE to the public. Yes, I said FREE.

Prior to the start of Alarum we will be running a trailer block of upcoming indie films to show the crowd what they can expect in the near future. If you have an upcoming film and would like us to screen your trailer at the event, we’d love to help you out. Just visit the official MySpace site and drop us a line.

We also have limited space but would love to have a couple of vendors set up shop to sell some indie film merchandise. There is no charge for the table space ,so if you are interested, drop us a line as well.

Hopefully those of you in the area can make it out and be a part of the fun. You can also help us out by spreading the word.

Visit www.myspace.com/freedoublefeature for more info.

florida supercon may 23-25

May 11, 2008 at 5:10 pm | In Events, Movies, Florida (Not Bay Area) | No Comments

Received via email:

Florida SuperCon (FSC) conjures up an impressive line-up of stars for the 2008 show including celebrities from Harry Potter, Avatar, Thundercats, Jem, Adult Swim, Marvel, DC and more! Florida SuperCon is taking over the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort; a location three times larger than last year’s and will fill every square foot with SuperCon fun May 23-25, 2008! The show launches with the opening ceremonies Friday evening, May 23 at 5 p.m. and continues almost around the clock through Sunday, May 25, at 6 p.m.

Not your father’s Trekkie convention, Florida SuperCon is a weekend-long event to meet and converse with celebrity guests including Harry Potter stars James and Oliver Phelps, who play the Weasley twins; Stanislav Ianevski, known for his role as Viktor Krum; and, in his first Convention appearance, Devon Murray, who plays Seamus Finnegan in the Harry Potter films. Also in attendance is comic book legend and FSC Guest of Honor Carmine Infantino (Former President of DC Comics), superstar voice actors/actresses including Adult Swim’s Dana Snyder (Master Shake from Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Jay Edwards (director, producer and editor of Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Grey Delisle (of Nickelodeon’s Avatar:The Last Airbender), Larry Kenny (Thundercats), as well as animators, artists, writers, industry guests, vendors and others!

Film festival screenings will commence with the east coast premiere of The Wizard Rockumentary:A Movie About Rocking and Rowling with filmmakers Megan and Mallory Schuyler in attendance to support the opening night film. Live music performances and concerts enhance the party atmosphere with musical guests like DJ Heavygrinder from LA, Tadahisa Yoshida from Japan, Samantha Newark (Jem from Jem and the Holograms), as well as Wizard Rock performances from Marked as His Equal and Witherwings.

Florida SuperCon is a convention for comic book, anime, animation, manga, sci-fi, and fantasy fans to connect in a comfortable setting where attendees are free to dress as their favorite character with cosplay and costume contests or come in street attire.

The convention hours of operation are:

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
SUNDAY, MAY 25, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tickets

General Admission (3) Day Weekend Pass:

$30 if reserved between April 23 and May 22, 2008

General Admission at the door: $20 for single day passes. $30 for three (3) day weekend passes.

VIP Ticket packages available (Bronze: $65, Silver: $125 and Gold $250).

Tickets are currently available online at www.floridasupercon.com.

Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort is located at 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, FL 33326, Phone: 954-616-1234 (15 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, 35 miles northwest of Miami). Florida SuperCon’s new “super-sized” location, The Bonaventure Resort has over 60,000 square feet of total convention space and is three times the size of Florida SuperCon’s previous location to accommodate its growing attendance. Information on the Resort can be found here.

For more info or to purchase tickets, visit www.floridasupercon.com.

film fan finding:horton hears a who

May 11, 2008 at 4:42 pm | In Reviews, Movies, *Horton Hears A Who (2008) | No Comments

Looks like I forgot to write a review of Horton Hears A Who. In the interest of time, I’ll copy and paste what I submitted to the Tampa Tribune way back when:

What I Liked: This is my favorite Dr. Seuss story, so I’m a little biased. Jim Carrey does a great job as the voice of Horton, the shy but friendly elephant who discovers that the entire world of Whoville exists on a tiny speck stuck to a flower. Whoville’s goofy mayor is voiced by Steve Carell, who also does a great job. The movie’s animation is vivid and colorful by itself, but Carrey and Carell make the movie come to life with their energetic, entertaining voice performances.

What I Disliked: The pop culture and political references, while funny, seemed weak to me. The film would have been entertaining and funny enough without the throw-away pop culture references so often used in other animated movies.

Would I Recommend?: I’d definitely recommend this movie. It’s a fresh take of a much-loved classic that offers a great story, funny characters, a positive message and strong voice performances.

Score: 8 out of 10

Film Fan Finding: A

reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated

May 8, 2008 at 7:46 am | In Movies | 1 Comment

Did you notice I was gone?

Well, I was. But I’m back now.

Regular posting will resume shortly. I apologize for any abandonment issues I’ve caused and thank you for your patience, interest and emails asking if you can have my domain name if I’m not going to use it.

sunscreen film festival screens some of its award-winning films on may 24

April 27, 2008 at 5:47 pm | In Events, Film Festivals, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | 1 Comment

Summer is almost here, must be time for Sunscreen!

The Sunscreen Film Festival presents its winning films from its 3rd year.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Pangea International Café
34 N. Fort Harrison Avenue
downtown Clearwater

6:30-11 p.m.

6:30 p.m. — The fun begins with a wine, olive oil and cheese tasting and an informal viewing of 2008’s winning films.

8 p.m. — Enjoy an encore screening of Art of Pain – winner of the 2008 Sunscreen Film Festival Audience Award.

9:30 p.m. Socialize more while enjoying Pangea’s cash coffee and dessert bar.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets sales will be applied to the attendee’s membership in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Pangea or online at www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com.

Visit the Sunscreen Film Festival’s website for more info.

gasparilla film festival presents the global lens 2008 film series

April 27, 2008 at 2:32 pm | In Events, Film Series, Film Festivals, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Received via email:

The Gasparilla Film Festival is proud to announce, along with its partners the University of Tampa and Studio(at)620, the following 2008 screening schedule for the prestigious Global Lens 2008 film series.

The Gasparilla Film Festival is partnering with the Global Film Initiative (GFI) to host Global Lens 2008, a GFI-sponsored traveling film series. GFI promotes cross-cultural understanding and diversity by presenting developing world feature films in over forty major U.S. Cities, with their prestigious film series entitled Global Lens. GFI is considered one of the foremost leaders in funding and distributing world cinema. Its film board is comprised of well known, accomplished international filmmakers, such as Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier, Mira Nair and Lucy Barreto, to name a few.

Past and present partners of the Global Lens Series include:

The Museum of Modern Art in New York
The American Film Institute
The Chicago International Film Festival
Gene Siskel Film Center
Miami International Film Festival
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
San Francisco Art Institute
Sarasota Film Society and The Seattle International Film Festival
Walker Art Center
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Denver Film Society
Salt Lake Film Society

Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication Tom Garrett at University of Tampa states: “It’s a wonderful international experience for University of Tampa’s Film Media Arts Program and its students to be involved - to have first-look exposure to the Global Lens series along with the Gasparilla Film Festival.”

Studio(at)620’s co-Artistic Director, G. David Ellis: “The Studio(at)620 is very pleased and excited to be a part of Global Lens 2008 and host these films through October. The Global Lens series will be a wonderful compliment to our evenings at the International Film Cafe. You can travel the world in the comfort of the Studio(at)620 and enjoy free popcorn too!”

John Rosser, Executive Director of the Gasparilla Film Festival: “The Gasparilla Film Festival is proud to hold the 2008 Tampa Bay exclusive rights for a world-class film series such as Global Lens 2008. We are particularly thrilled to be working with such high-quality local partners as the University of Tampa and Studio(at)620 on screening these important films. Our organization continues to grow, and we look forward to continuing to support such worthwhile endeavors as Global Lens.”

CONSOLIDATED SCREENING SCHEDULE:

Friday, May 23 — Bunny Chow (South Africa), Studio(at)620, St. Petersburg
Friday, June 6 — movie title TBD, U of Tampa, Reeves Theater
Friday, June 27 — The Kite (Lebanon), Studio(at)620, St. Petersburg
Friday, July 11 — All For Free (Croatia), Studio(at)620, St. Petersburg
Friday, July 25 — movie title TBD, U of Tampa, Reeves Theater
Friday, August 22 — The Fish Fall in Love (Iran), Studio(at)620, St. Petersburg
Friday, August 29 — movie title TBD, U of Tampa, Reeves Theater
Friday, September 26 — The Bet Collector, Studio(at)620, St. Petersburg

MINI-FESTIVAL #1, University of Tampa, Reeves Theater
Fall 2008, TBD, 7 screenings

MINI- FESTIVAL #2, STUDIO(at)620, St. Petersburg
Friday, October 4 — Argentine doubleheader: The Custodian, Kept and Dreamless
Saturday, October 5 — Celebration of Asia:
(1) Let the Wind Blow (India)
(2) Luxury Car (China)
(3) Opera Jawa (Indonesia)

Visit www.gasparillafilmfestival.com for more info.

ybor festival of the moving image runs through april 20

April 18, 2008 at 6:35 pm | In Events, Film Festivals, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Cancel your plans for this weekend. You need to attend the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. Don’t want to take my word for it? See for yourself:

Saturday, April 19

HCC Performing Arts Building
Outside

11 a.m.
Cyanotype Workshop
Tickets: Free
Part of Moving Thought:A Mobile Exhibition of Artists’ Books

HCC Campus
Ybor Room

11 a.m.
Screen Actors Guild: Independent Films and Low Budget Agreements panel
Tickets: Free
Are you considering producing your own film? Don’t know where to start? Plan to attend this workshop, presented by Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Conducted by David Fazekas, SAG South Region Executive, this workshop will introduce and explain SAG’s various low-budget agreements, including special agreements for short and student films. David will walk you through the process of signing a SAG low-budget agreement from start to finish and answer any other questions you might have about the Guild.

Noon
Sunshine in the Dark: History of Films Made in Florida workshop
Tickets: Free
Historians Susan Fernandez and Robert Ingalls have identified more than 300 films about Florida to analyze how filmmakers have portrayed the state and its people from the silent era to the present. In their presentation, Fernandez and Ingalls will discuss their findings about location settings, plot lines, and characters that dominate films produced both by Hollywood studios and independent filmmakers. Their book Sunshine in the Dark: Florida in the Movies is the first complete study of how the movie industry has immortalized Florida’s extraordinary scenery, characters, and history on celluloid.

1:30 p.m.
Filmmaker Panel: The Documentary — Form and Function, Greg Musselman (moderator)
Tickets: Free
The Festival is screening a number of titles that are considered to be in the genre of documentaries but take very different approaches to this important form of cinema. Filmmakers presenting at the fest will provide insight into their individual vision and approach to their subjects, discuss the challenges of capturing “real life”, and share stories of the journey of making a movie. Panelists: Bari Pearlman (Daughters of Wisdome), Pete Guzzo and Paul Guzzo (Ghosts of Ybor:Charlie Wall), Linda Booker (Love Lived on Death Row), Shawn Cheatham (Sightseeing), Charles Lyman (Persistence of Vision), Brenda Medina (Holy Biker), Allison Koehler (Untitled) and Manny Mendoza (Stop the Presses).

3 p.m.
Portraits
Tickets: $5.00

Auntie and Me, produced and directed by Victoria Jorgensen
A filmmaker documents her first meeting with her newly discovered “Auntie Pam”, the product of the filmmaker’s Hemingwayesque grandfather who worked as a photographer in Honduras in the 30’s and 40’s and Pam’s mother Josephine, the family’s caretaker. Director Victoria Jorgensen will be present.

Holy Biker, produced by Pantalla Films
A biker community embraces an unlikely new member. One of the directors, Brenda Medina, will be present.

Bally Master, directed by Gary Beeber
Enter the bizarre world of Scott Baker, master of the Bally stage at Coney Island’s “Sideshows by the Seashore”. Watch Scott as he performs his most outrageous sideshow routines and talks in depth about his life, the history of geeking and of the sideshow.

Kuna Ni Nuang (My Mother Said), produced and directed by Jessica Sison
In this day and age, when everything is documented and even cell phones have cameras, one woman has no souvenirs or photos of her beloved mother. Meet Elena Bautista, 99 years…YOUNG.

Dinner Table, produced and directed by Song E. Kim
A couple is having dinner on an ordinary day. The girl casually asks the boy who the food is. He answers. However, his manner of speaking takes her to her psychological journey.

4 p.m.
Global Snapshots
Tickets: $5.00

Con el Toque de la Chaveta (With a Stroke of the Chaveta), produced and directed by Pamela Sporn
This film takes viewers into the legendary cigar factories of Cuba where we witness the unique tradition of “la lectura de tabaqueria”, the collective reading of literature while tabaqueros roll habanos.

Not Only Just Coffee, directed and photographed by Patricia McInrov
An experimental and personal documentary exploring themes of immigration, death and media along the U.S./Mexico border and beyond. Coffee serves as a centerpiece to understand and connect cultures, histories and people throughout the work.

Mimoune, directed by Gonzalo Ballester
Illegal immigration is not only a problem for our society. Not only does the illegal immigrant suffer from social uprooting but also the most difficult part of this situation: the family division.

6 p.m.
Strong Short Stories
Tickets: $5.00
Strong language - viewer discretion advised.

Alicja Wonderland, directed by Martin Gavreau
You will see, you will love me too.

Made in Japan, produced and directed by Ciro Altabas
“…My mother admitted that the man who I thought was my father was not my father.”

On the Grind, produced and directed by Karla DiBenedetto
A social portrait featuring street rapper Artino Rope, who faces the possibility of homelessness and must reconcile the consequences of his quest for fame.

For A Few More Marbles More, written and directed by Jelmar Huffen
Four ten-year-olds are kicked out of their favorite playground by two aggressive drunkards. When they realize their parents are not going to help them, they have only one solution. They have to find a way to get the toughest boy in the neighborhood to help them.

Gustav Braustache and the Auto-Debilitator, produced and directed by Rob Cunningham and Tony Mullen
Gustav Braustache, inventor of the Pedestrian Direction Reverser and other popular devices, has never been one for managing the mundane details of daily life. His unconventional method of rent payment along with the untimely misfiring of his Position Despecifier launch him on a bizarre journey.

Anti-Narrative Number 4, written, produced and directed by Jeremy Kruse
An experimental film in which a man’s life is examined.

HCC Performing Arts Building
Main Stage

11 a.m.
Stop the Presses:The American Newspaper in Peril, produced and directed by Manny Mendoza and Mark Birnbaum
Tickets: $5.00
The woes of the American newspaper put democracy at risk. As paid circulation, ad revenue and stock prices plummet, can the Internet take up print journalism’s historic role as the public’s chief watchdog. One of the directors, Manny Mendoza, will be present.

1 p.m.
El Inmigrante, directed by John Sheedy, David Eckrenrode and John Eckrenrode
Tickets: $5.00
A documentary film that examines the Mexican and American border crisis by telling the story of Eusebio de Haro, a young Mexican migrant who was shot and killed during one of his journeys north.

2:30 p.m.
Nice Bombs, directed by Usama Alshaibi
Tickets: $5.00
Filmmaker Usama Alshaibi returns to Baghdad to reunite with his family after nearly 24 years, documenting his unique relationship to an Iraq that is much different from the country of his childhood.

4:30 p.m.
Daughters of Wisdom, produced and directed by Bari Pearlman
Tickets: $5.00
An intimate portrait of the nuns of the Kala Rongo Monastery who study and practice full-time, creating new opportunities for themselves and for the community they serve. These nuns, who are receiving unprecedented educational and religious training, are preserving their rich cultural heritage even as they slowly reshape it. The director, Bari Pearlman, will introduce the film and discuss the film.

6:30 p.m.
Ghosts of Ybor:Charlie Wall, directed by Pete Guzzo, written by Paul Guzzo
Tickets: $10.00 (Sold Out)
Despite being Florida’s earliest crime lord and one of the nation’s most colorful individuals in the early 1900s, little is known about Charlie Wall outside of the tiny Tampa historic district of Ybor City. Using photos, paintings, old film footage, reenactments (including his famous assassination escape when they drove backwards through traffic), written history and oral history, 1 Day Films showcases the most comprehensive history ever told about Charlie Wall and the first documentary ever produced on this legendary Florida crime figure. Director Pete Guzzo and writer/researcher Paul Guzzo, Tampa filmmakers and brothers, will be present.

8:30 p.m.
Killer of Sheep, directed by Charles Burnett
Tickets: $5.00
Killer of Sheep examines the black Los Angeles ghetto of Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of Stan, a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached and numb from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouse. Writer/director Charles Burnett submitted Killer of Sheep, his first feature film, as his thesis for his MFA in film at UCLA. The film was shot on location near his family’s home in Watts in a series of weekends on a shoestring budget of less than $10,000, most of which was grant money. HCC’s Carlton Williams will introduce the film and moderate a discussion after the screening.

HCC Performing Arts Building
Studio Theater

1 p.m.
Animation Snapshots
Tickets: $5.00

Bottled, animated and directed by Jian Lee
Bottled is about two people living in glass bottles. The bottles are located in an artist’s studio and the characters are the creations of the artist. The hand, the artist, creates another male character for the woman to save her from loneliness.

Torn Asunder, produced and directed by Bob Barancik
This video creatively explores the increasingly frayed American national psyche. The young urban voices are two of Tampa Bay’s most popular performance poets. The art and post-production were handled by two baby boomers.

Dinner Table, produced and directed by Song E. Kim
A couple is having dinner on an ordinary day. The girl casually asks the boy who the food is. He answers. However, his manner of speaking takes her to her psychological journey.

Simulacra, produced and directed by Tatchapon Lertwirojkul
In the vast universe, there’s one robot planet where everything is machines and robots. One day, one robot found the one organic lifeform existing in his world. He decides he must have it.

Almost Like One of the Family, produced and directed by Astrid Goransson
In 1933 Anna-Helèn Johansson wrote 30 letters to her sister Clary. Anna-Helèn, young farmer’s daughter, got the chance to live in a city household in Stockholm. There is a flow of descriptions in these letters and above all - a flow of feelings. Anna-Helèn was supposed to be like a member of the fine opera-family Stiebel. Instead, she became their maid.

Butterfly Effect, directed by Venda Lee and Chad Lung
On a bright, sunny morning, Eric and his neighbors in blue uniforms start the day in their bizarre town. An old brown briefcase fallen from the sky pushes them to a marathon. From the town with queer factories and the broccoli path, to the four characters and their replicas, all made in hard cut photos, this stop-motion video took more than half a year to create.

Lovely Academic Slaughter Houses, directed by David Finkelstein
An improvised meditation on the box-like conceptual mindset of academia, as it attempts to grapple with the bubblelike flow of the real world, with animated illustrations.

3 p.m.
Program 1
American Underground and Personal Films of the 1950’s through 1970’s
The personal film and its sources, “Images from the lives of the filmmakers.” Presented by Charles Lyman.
Tickets: $5.00

Peter Hutton - Images of Asian Music - 29 minutes (excerpt)
A minimalist film, linked impressions of a trip to Asia, contemplative.

Will Hindle - Saint Flournoy Lobos-Logos and the Eastern European Fetus Taxing Japan Bride in West Coast Places - 30 minutes (excerpt)

Will Hindle - Sucking Alabama Air - 15 minutes
The effect of current culture and reading on the life and art of the filmmaker. Charles Manson and the 1960s.

Gunvor Nelson - My Name is Oona - 10 minutes
The filmmaker uses moving images of her daughter’s first years of life to evoke the passages of childhood. With Robert Nelson and Dorothy Wiley.

Scott Bartlett - 1970 - 30 minutes (excerpt)
A visual diary of events in the filmmakers life: trips and voyages, a wife and a film business, the joys and disappointments of a career working in a new art form.

Ralph Arlyck - An Acquired Taste - 26 minutes (excerpt)
A ride through the thoughts of the filmmaker about his growing family and the effort to capture his world on film.

5 p.m.
Experimental Visions
Tickets: $5.00

Untitled (2007), produced and directed by Allison Koehler
A portrait of humanity, lonely and estranged. Director Allison Koehler will be present.

The Distance to the Sun, directed and produced by Andrea Doimi
Bob Lazar talks, while we move to one of the most secret places ever, the “Groom Lake S4 Zone”. The “Area 51″ shapes a far mind-location for a unique deep experience.

Themes and Variations for the Naked Eye, produced and directed by Caitlin Horsmon
This film borrows tropes from the still life and aspires to the medical film. The curious subject uses a series of demolitions to think through the status of ordinary objects and their pictorial histories.

7 p.m.
Saint Death
Directed by Eva Aridjis
Tickets: $5.00
In Mexico there is a cult that is rapidly growing — the cult of Saint Death. This female grim reaper, considered a saint by followers but Satanic by the Catholic Church, is worshipped by people whose lives are filled with danger and violence.

9 p.m.
Tin Can Man, directed by Ivan Kavanaugh
Tickets: $5.00
Recently dumped by his girlfriend for another man, working in a job he hates, things could be better for Peter. One night, while he is alone in his apartment, there is a knock at the door. His life will never be the same again.

Sunday, April 20

HCC Campus
Ybor Room

11 a.m.
Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad (A Little Bit So Much Truth), directed by Jill Freidberg
In the summer of 2006, a non-violent, popular uprising exploded in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Some compared it to the Paris Commune, while others called it the first Latin American revolution of the 21st century. But it was the people’s use of the media that truly made history in Oaxaca.

1 p.m.
Chuck Norris — A Cultural Icon for Kids? Visual Literacy and Children
Tara Schroeder and James Welsh
How do young people use things they’ve seen in the world around them to tell stories and make movies? How and why has Chuck Norris become a cultural icon for kids? How does a seemingly carefree and simple two-minute animated film created by two third graders communicate the complexities of political responsibilities of office holders and their constituencies?

Join young filmmakers from Tampa Theatre’s Let’s Make Movies summer camp as they screen their stop motion and live action digital short features and talk about their filmmaking experiences. Tara Schroeder from Tampa Theatre and James Welsh from USF College of Education’s Florida Center for Instructional Technology will discuss how to interpret, understand and evaluate meaning and purpose in the embryonic stages of children developing a visual literacy vocabulary. Young filmmakers will be present.

2 p.m.
Films for Families (Selected Titles)

Kuna Ni Nuang (My Mother Said), produced and directed by Jessica Sison
In this day and age, when everything is documented and even cell phones have cameras, one woman has no souvenirs or photos of her beloved mother. Meet Elena Bautista, 99 years…YOUNG. Director Jessica Sison will be present.

For A Few Marbles More, written and directed by Jelmar Hufen
Four ten-year-olds are kicked out of their favorite playground by two aggressive drunkards. When they realize their parents are not going to help them, they have only one solution. They have to find a way to get the toughest boy in the neighborhood to help them.

Gustav Braustache and the Auto-Debilitator, produced and directed by Rob Cunningham and Tony Mullen
Gustav Braustache, inventor of the Pedestrian Direction Reverser and other popular devices, has never been one for managing the mundane details of daily life. His unconventional method of rent payment along with the untimely misfiring of his Position Despecifier launch him on a bizarre journey.

Butterfly Effect, directed by Venda Lee and Chad Lung
On a bright, sunny morning, Eric and his neighbors in blue uniforms start the day in their bizarre town. An old brown briefcase fallen from the sky pushes them to a marathon. From the town with queer factories and the broccoli path, to the four characters and their replicas, all made in hard cut photos, this stop-motion video took more than half a year to create.

3 p.m.
Program 2
American Underground and Personal Films of the 1950’s through 1970’s
The “poetry” and “psychology” of personal film. Where the images come from. Making films about what you know best and personally. Presented by Charles Lyman.

Bruce Conner - Mongoloid - 14 minutes
Found footage. One of the first MTVs ever, on a song by DEVO, now widely featured on YouTube. Sarcasm, humor and detachment, by a founding member of Canyon Cinema Cooperative. Discovery of evidence in past image making and relevance to the present.

Ed Emshwiller - Thanatopsis - 5 minutes
A psychological film which deals in visual metaphors and the mental state of the filmmaker.

Will Hindle - Chinese Firedrill - 12 minutes (Restored print)
The psychological disposition of the artist, depicted in metaphors such as broken glass, and computer cards. Items picked up by the filmmaker in daily life and installed in a constructed studio set. A seminal film, winner of the top prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

George Kuchar - Hold Me While I’m Naked - 15 minutes
A funny film, which takes a humorous view of the motivations for making a film — such as success with opposite sex.

Stan Brackage - Window Water Baby Moving - 12 minutes
The filmmaker reflects on the birth of his child. Bold in its exploration of anatomy, voluptuous and fertile and intensely personal.

Charles Lyman - The Persistence of Vision - 12 minutes
A reflection on the pleasures and dangers of raising a child. A mix of Charles Manson, insanity, drug-induced visions, quiet joys, personal lives recorded in film.
4:30 p.m.
Sightseeing, directed by Shawn Cheatham
The life of a lonely travel journalist is disrupted when he returns to critique his childhood home where unresolved family enigmas lie in wait. Director Shawn Cheatham will be present.

HCC Performing Arts Building
Main Stage

11 a.m.
Moving Portraits
Tickets: $5.00

Bally Master, directed by Gary Beeber
Enter the bizarre world of Scott Baker, master of the Bally stage at Coney Island’s “Sideshows by the Seashore”. Watch Scott as he performs his most outrageous sideshow routines and talks in depth about his life, the history of geeking and of the sideshow.

Dark Green, produced and directed by Lisa Broome-Price
During the winter of 2006, filmmaker Bill Santen followed Lexington, Kentucky native Kris Kelly as she prepared to move out of her apartment and into urban wilderness.

Human Scale, produced and directed by Herma Balasundaram
Two twenty-something friends try to survive the instability of early adulthood while battling serious bipolar disorder.

One of the Last, produced and directed by Paul Zinder
Mauro is a 78-year-old Italian peasant who loves his life. He picks olives, grapes, cherries. He wonders why anybody would want to do anything else.

12:30 p.m.
The New Samaritans, directed by Alexander Shabataev, Sergey Granklin and Efim Kuchuk
Tickets: $5.00
On the mountain Gerizim located between Palestine and Israel live the most ancient people in the world, the Samaritans. The Samaritans have existed for over 3600 years, but the current number of descendants is less than 900. In the early 21st century their spiritual leader broke one of their fundamental commandments, the strict prohibition of intermarriage with non-Samaritans. The first two lucky men set off to faraway lands in search of brides, on a quest to save this ancient civilization.

1:30 p.m.
War Dance, directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix
Tickets: $5.00
Nominated for the Academy Award’s Best Documentary, War Dance follows three children living in a displacement camp in northern Uganda as they compete in their country’s national music and dance festival.

3 p.m.
Love Lived on Death Row, directed by Linda Booker
Tickets: $5.00
Love Lived on Death Row tells the story of four siblings whose father was sentenced to die for the murder of their mother. Orphaned and estranged, they raised themselves while they lived with hate, anger and confusion as their father lived on death row. But in 2004, they collectively decided to visit him in prison, seeking answers so they could move on with their adult lives.
Director Linda Booker will be present to discuss the film.

5 p.m.
Moving Portraits
Tickets: $5.00

Auntie and Me, produced and directed by Victoria Jorgensen
A filmmaker documents her first meeting with her newly discovered “Auntie Pam”, the product of the filmmaker’s Hemingwayesque grandfather who worked as a photographer in Honduras in the 30’s and 40’s and Pam’s mother Josephine, the family’s caretaker. Director Victoria Jorgensen will be present.

Holy Biker, produced by Pantalla Films
A biker community embraces an unlikely new member. One of the directors, Brenda Medina, will be present.

One of the Last, produced and directed by Paul Zinder
Mauro is a 78-year-old Italian peasant who loves his life. He picks olives, grapes, cherries. He wonders why anybody would want to do anything else.

HCC Performing Arts Building
Studio Theater

11 a.m.
Things Behind the Sun, directed by Allison Anders
Tickets: $5.00
Presented by Robert Ingalls and Susan Fernandez, who introduce the film and lead a discussion after the screening. This serious, powerful film centers on a Florida-based musician, Sherry (Kim Dickens), whose hit song recounts the dark story of her childhood rape. Sherry doesn?t quite remember the experience, and when she is approached by a man from her past, she is unaware that he harbors a dark secret about what actually happened to her when she was a 12-year-old girl.

1 p.m.
Several Friends, directed by Charles Burnett
Tickets: $5.00
Several Friends, was which was originally planned as a feature but ended up a short. The film is a series of loose, documentary-style vignettes sketching the lives of a handful of characters, mostly played by amateurs (Burnett’s friends) living in Watts. Much of the film’s theme and aesthetic (even some of its actors) ended up in Killer of Sheep.

2 p.m.
Charles Burnett Shorts
Tickets: $5.00

The Horse, directed by Charles Burnett
The Horse is a boy’s coming-of-age story, written and directed by Charles Burnett. On and around the porch of an abandoned, disintegrating farm house an assortment of characters anxiously await the violent death of a horse. The film won “First Prize” at Oberhausen’s Short Film Festival. It was restored by UCLA Film and Television Archive.

When It Rains, directed by Charles Burnett
In this jazz-inspired short film, a self-described urban “griot” spends New Year’s Day canvassing his neighborhood to scrape together enough rent money to keep a mother and daughter from losing their apartment. Featuring a cast and crew made up of director Charles Burnett’s own circle of friends, this film recalls his earlier works in its South Central Los Angeles setting and outstanding music.

Quiet as Kept, directed by Charles Burnett
The latest short film by Charles Barnett, Quiet As Kept is the story of a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

3 p.m.
My Brother’s Wedding, directed by Charles Burnett
Tickets: $5.00
Charles Burnett wrote, directed and produced this low budget independent film on location in the area of South Central Los Angeles where he grew up. Like his films Killer of Sheep and To Sleep with Anger, the locale and the personality of the neighborhood was as important as the characters.

4:30 p.m.
HCC Student Film Program
Tickets: Free

Untitled (I Still Believe) by Lashara Sullivan and Osdel Porro: a look at the reality that those who serve in the armed forces face and a moving portrait of their humanity.

The Truth Behind JonBenet Ramsey by Daniel Kathman and Daniel Rodriguez: two students pursue their own investigation and draw their own conclusions about the death of JonBenet in this pseudo-documentary.

Affliction by Kyle Despiegler: a suspenseful thriller where paranoia turns into an even greater tragedy.

Exactly by Liz Guillot, Fae Turner and Mike Spindle: an inspirational music video for the song Exactly by Amy Steinberg.

One Egg Makes a Difference by Mike Mars and company: a young college student relives an unbelievable and embarrassing personal experience.

Mens REA by Brittney Buchanan and company: a man’s descent into his own mind.

Underpong:A Drunken Tale of Glory by Steve Kelly and company: Set in the 1980s, Underpong details the glorious victory of the underdog U.S. Beer Pong team against the Russians. Student directors will be present.

HCC Performing Arts Building
Music Studio

6 p.m.
Peter Tush Eats Celluloid
Tickets: Free
Cuban composer Alfredo Rivera and the HCC Jazz Band present the premiere of Rivero’s “Film Score for an Imaginary Film”.

Visit www.yborfilmfestival.com for more info.

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